Stock drinking-fountain.



L. n. BUTCHER.

STOCK DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-25. 1916.

1,969,040 Patented June 11, 1918.

awuewto a LOWELL B. BUTCHER, 0F H OLSTEIN', IOWA.

STOCK DRINKING-FOUNTAIN.

' Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented June 11, 1918.

Application filed August 25, 1918. Serial No. 116,917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lownm. R. BUTCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holstein, in the county of Ida and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stock Drinking-Fountains, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a stock water fountain and aims to generally improve, simplify and render a device of this nature more efiicient and a definite object is to provide a drinking chamber and a float chamber communicating therewith and having a float-operable valve means therein for the source of water supply.

dditional objects and advantages will appear hereinafter as the description progredses and is taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating one preferred embodiment, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of my improved fountain in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the improved fountain, and

Fig. 3 is a view of my improved fountain in plan but with the cover for the float chamber removed.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the reservoir provided is formed of a bottom wall 4, side walls 5 and end walls 6. Intermediate the end walls 6 and fastened to the side walls is a partition wall 7 which serves to define a drinking chamber'A intermediate the same and one end wall 6. The last mentioned end wall 6 is lower than the partition 7 as well as the portions of the side wall adjacent said end wall. The side walls, however, have portions which make them of the same height as the partition 7 and the other end wall 6. Betweenthe latter end wall and the partition 7 a float chamber B is provided which is completely inclosed since a cover plate 9' is secured to the top of the partition, one end wall and the portion 8. The compartment A is open at its top as shown in the drawings. In the partition 7 an opening or port 10 is provided so that the chambers A. and B may communicate and the water therein seek a level.

Water may be supplied from any suitable source through a pipe 11 into the chamber B slnce the pipe is mounted or fastened in one end wall 6. Cooperating with the outlet of the pipe 11 within the chamber B is a flexible valve 12, which for instance may be made of leather and carried by a resilient hook end 13 of a bell crank lever 14 pivoted at 15 from a bracket 16 secured to one end wall 6. A float 17 engages the water within the float chamber and is connected to the bell crank lever 14 in any suitable manner for instance by flexible means such as a chain 18.

One important feature of the present invention is the fact that the valve 12 is flexible and it is carried by a resilient support. By reason of this fact, the valve will more securely cover the outlet of pipe 11 than would be the case if 1ts support were rigid.

In use, the poultry or stock obtain the water at the drinking compartment A and as the supply diminishes, float 17 lowers and accordingly, the bell crank lever 14 tilts so as to move the valve 12 away from the pipe 11. As a result further water is supplied into the float chamber B and when a sufiicient supply has entered, the water seeks its level in both chambers A and B throu h the port 10 and acts on the float 17 to ralse it and accordingly move the valve 12 into closed relation with the ipe 11.

Since merel the pre erred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is th be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim 1. The combination with a chamber provided with a water inlet, of a bell crank lever pivotally' mounted adjacent said inlet and having the shorter arm thereof formed of resilient material and curved to provide a spring terminal, a flexible valve carried by said terminal and adapted to close said inlet, and a float connected to the longer arm of the lever.

2. The combination with a chamber provided with a water inlet, of a bracket arranged adjacent said inlet, a bell crank lever pivotallyg counted in said bracket, the

23 il eeepee shorter arm of sei& lever being formed of resilient material and twisted at right ongles and bent to provide a resilient terminal, a flexible valve carried by said terminal 5 to close Sam 0 ening, and a float operatively connected Wit the longer arm of the lever.

In testimony whereof 1 Win my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOWELL R. BUTCHER. Witnesses:

Mrs. C. L. Bn'rcmn, O. L. Bn'rcm. 

